Page 29 of Easy Out

“What about Koa?” Syd’s cheeks blush. Oh, she definitely wants Koa to be her daddy.

“What about Hart?” I scoff.

“What about him?” Why would she even ask about Hart?

“I’m not blind, Lo. I see the way y’all look at each other. Hart doesn’t flirt with anyone, and he was flirtin’ with you.” She stabs her fork in my direction.

“He does not flirt with me. He’s barely spoken to me in the three years I’ve known him. And even now that he has to talk to me, he doesn’t say much.”

“Yeah, well, Hart doesn’t speak to anyone except for Koa, Wyatt, and Nash. Sometimes me. He’s a good guy Lauren. Don’t let his stoney exterior deceive you. He’s had those walls built for a long time.”

“Hart and I are just partners for an assignment.” He showed up in another one of my classes today, followed by his harem. I don’t know how I didn’t notice him last week. You’ve been groomed to keep your head down and not pay attention to what other people are doing. That’s how.

“Partners, huh? That should be interesting. What do you have to do?”

“We have to write one story together and then another one about each other.” Syd laughs hysterically. “Something funny?”

“Nope,” she says as she sobers. There is still a hint of a smile on her face. “I think it will be interesting to see what information you two weasel out of each other. You’re both so private.” She’s not wrong.

“Yeah, well, I guess that is the point of the assignment. To learn how to get the answers you need when we’re doing this for real. I’ll give him enough to write his paper.” The bare minimum. That’s all Hart needs. I already gave him more than I wanted to yesterday.

“Do you see this leading anywhere?”

"What do you mean by this?" Syd rolls her eyes.

"You and Hart hanging out. Do you see it evolving? You know, like into a relationship?" I make some weird noise as I choke on a piece of rice.

“I don’t even want to know how your brain jumped to that conclusion. Hart doesn’t strike me as the relationship type, and I’m not here for that.”

“You might be right. He never had a girlfriend in high school, and I haven’t seen him with anyone serious or casual at Newhouse.”

“Exactly. I’m not fool enough to think I could change his ways.” Syd attempts to butt in. “Not that I would want to try anyway. You have that look in your eye, Syd. Don’t get involved, okay? At least wait until we’ve turned in our assignments. I won’t be able to look him in the eye if you lie to him and tell him I find him attractive.”

“Are you sure I would be the one lying? Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t find James Hart attractive. Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

A flash of Hart sitting casually in the chair at the library fills my mind. His long legs stretched out on either side of mine. A backward hat taming his head of curly black hair. Tattoos decorating his forearms and biceps with no rhyme or reason.

“He’s not terrible to look at, I guess.”

“You are full of so much shit you could clog every toilet in the building. He’s not terrible to look at my ass.”

On that note. “I’ve got to get ready for work.” I pick up my plate and take it to the sink.

“I’ll put everything away and do the dishes since you cooked,” Syd offers.

“Thanks. Are you serious about Ray’s? It would be fun having you there with me.”

“Hell yeah, I’m serious. Let’s do it!”

“Your enthusiasm is scaring me. Are you sure you have time to work? You were just complaining about all the assignments for your classes.”

“I’m kind of scaring myself. I’ll be fine. It will be a nice change of scene from lecture halls and labs. And I’ll be with you. I always have fun with you.”

“Damn, straight you do.” I slap her butt with a kitchen towel. “Don’t wait up for me. I’ll be late tonight.”

Syd waves me off, and I head to my room to grab my phone and keys. I have a few missed texts from Hart.

HART

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